The Tempest, is a timeless play about Prospero getting justice by having his throne back. William Shakespeare uses various dramatic elements to help readers deepen their understanding of the text in the play. The archetype critical theory can be used when reading Act 1, Scene 2 of The Tempest, for enhancing the reader’s understanding of the play. The archetype critical theory is patterns that are universal and have been applied to literature. These archetypes are present in the symbols, imagery, allusions, and dramatic irony of the scene. Shakespeare uses symbolism in this scene to help create meaning and emotions from the audience, in the form of archetypes. The symbol of Miranda’s virginity, symbolizes Miranda’s purity and innocence. Miranda …show more content…
The imagery of water is utilized to express Prospero’s sadness and misery. ‘’ When I have deck’d the sea with drops full salt,/ Under my burthen groan’d;’’ (Shakespeare, I, ii, 155-156), describes Prospero conveying his despair when Antonio, his brother, took his throne away from him by saying he had so many tears that they could have filled the sea. This shows to the audience how valuable his throne and kingdom were to Prospero. Water is an archetype that means life and growth. When his throne was taken away from him, Prospero ‘’grew’’ and became a different person. He had new goals and determination in life. In addition, the imagery of the sea and wind are also used to provoke emotion from the audience. The images used in the collage are of the sea and the wind blowing together. The quote used with the collage expresses the sadness Prospero went through. This helps the audience have a deeper understanding from Prospero’s perspective and the right he has to be angry and vengeful for all of the …show more content…
‘’ Speak not you for him; he’s a traitor. Come;/ I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together: /Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be /The fresh-brook muscles, wither’d roots, and husks/ Wherein the acorn cradled.’’ (Shakespeare, I, ii, 461-464), is dramatic irony as the audience is aware of the fact that Prospero likes Ferdinand and wants him an Miranda to fall in love, but is still being rude to Ferdinand as a test. This is funny and provided entertainment to the audience, as they are aware of something that the characters aren’t. The archetype of the hero’s journey is used here, as Ferdinand is going through trials to prove his love for Miranda. He is proving his determination, strength, and courage along with his love. The images used in the collage are of Miranda and Ferdinand meeting, to show the humour behind their role in Prospero’s plan to get the throne back. Overall, Shakespeare’s use of symbolism, imagery, allusions, and dramatic irony help the audience to understand the archetypes, which helps in analyzing the meaning behind the words of the
William Shakespeare had a unique way of moving his story along. Instead of making what happens next in a story blatant and obvious, he would incorporate different symbols and new characters to send messages to both the reader and the characters in the story. In one of his most famous plays, “Macbeth” the main character whom the story is named after is visited by three examples of these symbols, foreshadowing the rest of the play, as well as providing somewhat of a flashback to what has been read to enable the reader to see a previous event in a new light as the story progresses.
Jones, Eldred. "Othello- An Interpretation" Critical Essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 39-55)
Shakespeare's play, The Tempest tells the story of a father, Prospero, who must let go of his daughter; who brings his enemies under his power only to release them; and who in turn finally relinquishes his sway over his world - including his power over nature itself. The Tempest contains elements ripe for tragedy: Prospero is a controlling figure bent on taking revenge for the wrongs done to him, and in his fury he has the potential to destroy not only his enemies, but his own humanity and his daughter's future.
In the comedic, yet thrilling play, The Tempest, William Shakespeare uses characters such as Caliban, Alonso, and Ariel to show Prospero’s immense cruelness and pure monstrosity. Moreover, these Shakespearean characters are also used to highlight Prospero’s change in character into a kinder and more forgiving person. Prospero starts the play out as a vengeful monster, after an illuminating moment however, his persona transforms into his true identity of a compassionate man.
Shakespeare's Use of Language, Imagery and Setting to Illuminate Prospero's Journey from Revenge to Reconciliation
Rather than presenting a realistic interpretation of The Tempest, Prospero’s Books relies on imaginative artistic alchemy. The film revolves on the image of Prospero in his library; ...
Jones, Eldred. "Othello- An Interpretation" Critical Essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994.
William Shakespeare’s The Tempest provides dialogue that portrays the social expectations and stereotypes imposed upon women in Elizabethan times. Even though the play has only one primary female character, Miranda, the play also includes another women; Sycorax, although she does not play as large a roll. During many scenes, the play illustrates the characteristics that represent the ideal woman within Elizabethan society. These characteristics support the fact that men considered women as a mere object that they had the luxury of owning and were nowhere near equal to them. Feminists can interpret the play as a depiction of the sexist treatment of women and would disagree with many of the characteristics and expectations that make Miranda the ideal woman. From this perspective, The Tempest can be used to objectify the common expectations and treatment of women within the 16th and 17th Centuries and compare and contrast to those of today.
In the 1600s, married women were expected to do anything for their husbands. Husbands were urged to be good heads of their families and to treat their wives with kindness and consideration. The woman were considered to be the 'weaker vessel ' and thought to be spiritually weaker than men and in need of masculine guidance. During this time, women were treated as inferior being who were meant to look after the house and were to children . Women were treated with little dignity. In “The Tempest,” William Shakespeare was able to show the oppression of women throughout the play. Scenes with Prospero and Miranda have shown significant hidden evidence to prove that the colonial era was a time of female oppression. Shakespeare uses Prospero as an
As the play itself is called ‘The Tempest’, the storm acts as a symbol. It presents all the suffering and hardship Prospero endured himself; breaking down the ship and its royal voyagers as Prospero was broken down himself.
Secondly, Miranda also serves as the ultimate fantasy for any male who (like Ferdinand) is a bachelor. She is extremely beautiful, she is intelligent, and she has never been touched (or even seen) by another male. Shakespeare makes Miranda even more desirable by including the fact that she has never seen or even talked to another man (with the obvoius exception of Prospero). Miranda personifies the ultimate source of good in the play, and provides the ultimate foil for the evil character of Caliban. When Ferdinand is forced to chop wood by Prospero, Miranda offers to do it for him. Finding a woman this humble in the world of Shakespeare is almost impossible. One does not have to look farther than her last line in the play to realize her purpose in the plot. Miranda states "O wonder! / How many goodly creatures there are here! / How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world / That has such people in't" (Tempest,5.1,185-7) Through this passage and many of her others Miranda shows a positive attitude which is almost uncanny when compared to the other characters.
In Shakespeare’s play, "The Tempest," an underlying theme of barbarism versus civilization appears. Shakespeare creates characters that exemplify symbols of nature or nurture. The symbolism of the characters is derived from their actions. These actions show Shakespeare’s view of the uncivilized and the civilized, as well as help the reader develop his own opinion of each side.
What immediately strikes the audience about The Tempest is the use of the supernatural in the form of apparitions like Ariel and the Harpy. These apparitions are under Prospero's authority and the result of his Art, which is the disciplined use of virtuous knowledge. By invoking a masque to celebrate the betrothal of Ferdinand and Miranda, Prospero effectively brings to full circle the theme of re-generation by obliterating the evil done and suffered by one generation through the love of the next. However, this is juxtaposed against the anti-masque elements of the attempted usurpations of Antonio and Caliban, which hold the play in a delicate balance between a tragic or comic resolution, holding the audience in great suspense.
William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest tells a story involving unjust acts, and Caliban trying to take over Prospero’s power of authority, Prospero’s mission to was to build righteousness and honesty by returning himself to rule. The idea of justice and injustice that the play works toward seems extremely independent meanwhile the impression of the play shows the view of one character who controls the purpose and fate of others.
The play, The Tempest, by William Shakespeare is a very cleverly thought out piece of work. Shakespeare very deliberately inter-relates several different forms of power during the course of the play. There is political power, shown through the plethora of political characters and their schemes, while at the same time parodied by the comic characters. The power of magic and love, and its ability to reunite and absolve also plays a major role in the play. Throughout the play, Prospero, the main character, takes great advantage of his power and authority, both properly and improperly. The epiphany of this however, is realized at the end of the play.